muckefuck | Getting served

Entry tags:

rant

Getting served

Last month, I renewed my condo insurance for the upcoming year. The previous time I did this, it took several phone calls and e-mails to get my agent to send me a copy of my revised policy. In the end, they had to fax a copy to the business office as well so that the board of directors had proof of insurance. I wrote a very strongly-worded e-mail to my agent decrying the whole rigamarole. She wrote me back apologising and promising that it wouldn't happen again.

Of course, it all happened again this year. If anything, it was worse. Last week, I was told me to e-mail the fax number of the condo office and they'd send a copy right away. By Wednesday, the condo business manager she hadn't received anything. I tried phoning my agent a couple of times: No response. Yesterday, I talked to her co-worker and found that she'd forwarded the e-mail to her only the day before. This other woman said she'd fax the form "right away" and that I might "want to call in about an hour and check if they got it". Oh, you betcha.

Today, I had a meeting first thing so I lured myself out of bed early with the promise of a lox bagel from Einstein's. It came without lox. So I brought it back to the manager and he asked me, "Tomatoes, onions, capers?" "Just onions." Next thing I know, the server is layering tomato slices on it. "NO TOMATOES!" I yell to him. The manager turns to him and says softly, "Just start over." so the guy pitches the bagel in the trash. "Do you want it toasted?" he asks. "No," I say and then, turning toward the manager, "cancel the order." "It'll only take a minute," he insists. Sorry, but at $6 for a damn bagel, you only get at most two chances to fuck up my order.

So between this and the mess with

monshu's cable (Don't ask--you don't need to; by now, everyone's had the experience of being stood up by a cable guy. Some of them probably even lied about going to the building and fixing the problem, just like this one did.), I'm very down on the standards of service in this country. Part of me wants to say they're going down, but another part of me knows this is just bad luck. So what I need is tales of good service to balance the picture. Who wants to tell me about a recent experience where a service provider actually discharged their duties competently and efficiently--or even went beyond the call of duty to do them a favour?

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Coming back from Dallas, worn out, we stopped for dinner at Wendy's and I ordered the, er, little burger. Junior? Something like that. It came without the things that make a burger good: namely vegetables and condiments. I took it up to the counter and asked about it. "That only comes with ketchup and onions," the manager said. I slouched woefully back to my seat. Then the young man behind the cash register brought me a little package of lettuce, tomato, and a mayo packet. I could've patted his wee head.

Between having to outwit the radiology dept to get a copy of my own scan results (I have another fax number for my doctor.. he's in the downtown office today, no, really) and the just-make-it-up-if-you-don't-know encounter from last night's shopping expedition and hour-long customer service rant this morning; I am batting 1000 for lousy service.

-e

Just when all hope was nearly lost, the lovely Barbara in OP radiology offered to prepare exactly what I needed, in the form I needed it, when it was convenient for me to pick it up. She even thanked me for calling!

She has restored my faith just a little bit.

-e

Just got a call back from yesterday's shopping fiasco with an offer to credit me back their profit on the item I purchased as an apology for the spectaculary bad service. And a competent answer to my question!

Faith almost completely restored.

-e

Here's something that will cheer your heart. Everyone was pleasant and helpful at the hospital on Monday. The nurses were warm and friendly, and quick to remedy problems. Even the food was good (for some reason, mom had the same menu that they give new mothers. She had the salmon). I can't think of specific above-and-beyond examples, but considering how frustrating hospital visits can be, prompt, helpful service is a pleasure.

Did they know she was an RN? I've sometimes wondered if there's enough solidarity within the profession to net nurse-patients some perks.

It did come up, but usually after they were already delightful.

Even better then!

Nothing major, but last week when I was getting a cappuccino, the barrista gave me a rock-crystal sugar stick to stir it with, which doesn't normally happen at this coffee shop. Then when I went back for my second cup of coffee an hour later, he was just leaving at the end of his shift. He was halfway to the door, skateboard in hand, and his replacement was already making a drink for someone else. But he turned around and went back to give me a fill.

Hey, Stuart is in town, wanna do something tonight?

Thanks for the offer, but I've got plans already.

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